Navigating the complexities of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) as a parent can be overwhelming. This is where support coordination exists! By working with a support coordinator, parents can build a team of professionals that help their child thrive, ensuring their NDIS plan runs smoothly. 

Support coordination is a critical service available to NDIS participants that empowers NDIS participants and their families. It helps parents not only access the necessary support services but also empowers them to make informed decisions about their child’s care. 

In this article, we will explore how support coordination assists parents, the benefits it offers, and the role of the support coordinator in building a team around your child’s NDIS plan.

What is Support Coordination?

Support coordination is an NDIS-funded service designed to assist participants in understanding and implementing their NDIS plans. It bridges the gap between participants and the services they need, helping to coordinate various providers and resources. For parents, support coordination offers a structured approach to navigating the complex NDIS system while ensuring that their child’s needs are met.

Support coordinators work with parents to identify the most appropriate services, ensure that funding is used efficiently, and help adjust plans as circumstances change. From helping with NDIS plan reviews to liaising with service providers, support coordinators play a key role in creating a cohesive support system for children with disabilities.

Building a Support Team for Your Child

One of the main benefits of support coordination is its ability to help parents build a comprehensive support team. This team typically includes various professionals such as therapists, educators, healthcare providers, and community service organisations that work together to meet the child’s unique needs.

A support coordinator is responsible for bringing these professionals together and ensuring they communicate effectively to deliver the best possible outcomes. For instance, they might coordinate meetings between a child’s occupational therapist and their speech pathologist to ensure therapies are aligned and contributing toward the child’s long-term goals. 

In doing so, the child receives holistic care that addresses their physical, emotional, and developmental needs.

The Importance of Collaboration

Effective support coordination is all about collaboration. Parents play a pivotal role in their child’s care, and a support coordinator ensures that their input is considered throughout the process. Working together with the parents, the coordinator ensures that the family’s values, priorities, and expectations are integrated into the support plan.

In addition, support coordinators collaborate with the NDIS Local Area Coordinator (LAC) to ensure that NDIS plans are up to date and reflect the evolving needs of the child. This collaboration is particularly important during plan reviews, where adjustments to funding and services may be necessary as the child’s needs change.

The Role of Support Coordination in Achieving Goals

One of the primary objectives of the NDIS is to promote capacity building for participants, empowering them to achieve greater independence. For children, this means working towards goals that enhance their development, social skills, and ability to participate in everyday activities.

Support coordination ensures that all services and providers work towards achieving these goals. Whether it’s arranging for additional therapy sessions, facilitating school-based support, or helping parents navigate complex disability services, a support coordinator ensures that every element of the child’s NDIS plan contributes to their long-term success.

For example, if a child’s goal is to improve their communication skills, the support coordinator may arrange for speech therapy and liaise with the child’s school to ensure they receive the necessary support in an educational setting. By focusing on the child’s goals and coordinating the right services, the support coordinator helps parents create a plan that is tailored to their child’s needs.

Support Coordination and Complex Needs

For children with complex needs, managing an NDIS plan can be particularly challenging. These children may require a more intensive level of care, involving multiple specialists and tailored services. A specialist support coordinator can be invaluable in these situations, as they have the expertise to manage more intricate care plans.

Parents of children with complex needs often face difficulties in finding the right providers or navigating the complexities of NDIS funding. A specialist support coordinator can take on these challenges, ensuring that services are aligned and that the child’s care plan works for them.

Benefits of Support Coordination for Parents

Parents are at the heart of their child’s care team, but juggling the various responsibilities can be overwhelming. By working with a support coordinator, parents benefit from having a dedicated professional who understands the NDIS and can advocate on their behalf. Some of the key benefits include:

  1. Reduced Stress: Navigating the NDIS is time-consuming and can be stressful for parents. A support coordinator takes on the administrative tasks, ensuring that funding is used appropriately and that services are delivered on time.
  2. Efficient Use of NDIS Funding: A support coordinator ensures that families make the most of their NDIS funding by helping them access the right services without wasting resources.
  3. Tailored Support: Every child’s needs are unique. A support coordinator works with parents to create a tailored plan that meets their child’s specific requirements, ensuring that they receive the best possible support.
  4. Expert Guidance: With in-depth knowledge of the NDIS, support coordinators help parents understand the system, making it easier to access the services their child needs.

Building a support team around your child is one of the most important aspects of ensuring they thrive under the NDIS. Support coordination provides parents with the expertise and resources they need to navigate the system and create a plan that delivers the right services for their child. By collaborating with providers, managing services, and advocating for necessary changes, support coordinators help parents create a team that is focused on achieving their child’s goals.

For more information on how support coordination can help your child thrive, visit Clickability’s Support Coordination page.